3 Answers

As a non-US chapter (Sydney) I agree with this. Our members currently don't pay fees to the IGDA because they see no benefit in it for them. If we got to keep a percentage of the dues to use for local events or other purposes (t-shirts, prizes, etc), then more of our members would actually pay their dues.
A number of our organising committee are petitioning to drop the IGDA label from our community altogether so that we can start to collect payments from members. This is something that I fight against often.
I understand Finland's chapter now has an arrangement that is a bit like this - it would be great if our chapter (and others around Aus) could come to a similar understanding in the near future.

It could be any number of things branded by IGDA: t-shirts, thumb drives, buttons, bottle openers, board member bobbleheads, collectible game dev trading cards, temporary tattoos, you name it. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just fun and/or useful. It would help promote the IGDA as well.

I'm going to tag Cat Wendt on this as she was originally going to possibly help re-take over the IGDA zazzle store (I think it was Zazzle). There may be a way to make that all work for everyone's benefit.

For instance, a chapter that steadily increases its membership by a certain percentage or has members who consistently show WIPs and/or submit games to the community gets a one year paid service (Game Dev Magazine, Professional Online Workshops or Tutorials, Game Engine License, GDC Vault, etc) that can be utilized by any or all of it's members.

Right. As an example, the group I'm trying to turn into an IGDA chapter can really own bring their own work to show since we don't have game dev companies. So, I'm looking at ways that I can encourage more people to start working on things and sharing them with the group.

If it could get to the point where, like artists forums, there was a place that they could share their work with the IGDA community, perhaps chapters who show a very active community could be rewarded somehow.

Disclaimer: This site is run by and for Sheri Rubin who is speaking/asking questions on behalf of herself, not on behalf of the org or any sub-group/chapter of the org, as she continually looks for more ways to improve the IGDA as a whole. Not all ideas/suggestions submitted will be acted upon but all reasonable ideas and suggestions will be considered.